A wildfire in Big Sur, known as the Plaskett Fire, has rapidly expanded to nearly 27,000 acres in just under a week, surpassing another significant fire nearby. Fire officials are cautioning that it may continue to spread further south.
As of Monday night, the Plaskett Fire had burned 26,734 acres and was only 1% contained, according to the latest reports.
This marked a dramatic jump from the 15,479 acres reported earlier that morning, making the Plaskett Fire larger than the Timber Fire, which has consumed 25,190 acres and is 22% contained.
The blaze started on Wednesday, initially affecting only 50 acres near Forest Road 23S10, east of Los Burros Road.
Fire officials noted that there was “continued aggressive growth” on Monday, particularly on the eastern front, as flames advanced deeper into Fort Hunter Liggett.
This area hasn’t seen a major wildfire in over 50 years, leading to thick vegetation that has intensified the fire’s spread across challenging terrain.
Officials expressed ongoing concern about the fire’s potential to expand southward as crews focused on safeguarding structures and building new containment lines.
Progress has been made on the northern edge, utilizing strategic burns to help curb the flames, while Super Scooper aircraft have been repeatedly targeting the southern section near Los Burros Road.
Currently, nearly 1,000 firefighters and additional support staff are combating the blaze, including 41 engines, 15 water tenders, 12 helicopters, six bulldozers, and 26 hand crews, based on the incident report.
Reports indicate that at least one structure has been destroyed, although the latest official update does not provide a total damage figure.
The fire has also led to the closure of approximately 56 miles of Highway 1, stretching from just south of Little Sur River at Mile Marker 56 up to just north of the San Luis Obispo County line. No estimated reopening time has been given.
Evacuation orders are in place for seven zones in Monterey County, with additional warnings issued for four more zones in Monterey County and three in San Luis Obispo County.
Shelters are available at the Carmel Mission Inn and the Veterans Memorial Building in Cambria.
The investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing.
